Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to respond briefly. I tend to agree with the point made by both Ms Irwin and Mr. Purser about the need to see how the junior cycle changes bed in. Although I asked how this process could be moved forward and expressed frustration at how long we had been talking about this, I understand that we have to take it step by step. There will be a learning process in changing the junior cycle which will feed into any changes to the senior cycle. I take that point. Ms Leydon referred to Áine Hyland's report. I suggest that we circulate that to the members of the committee. We all need to be reminded of it even if we did originally read it. It would be useful in terms of how we proceed. I am not sure that I have further questions except a very specific question about how each of the organisations is actually engaging with the process which the NCCA has undertaken. Obviously we are engaging with the process.

Are there related issues of which the committee should be aware? I assume that all the witnesses are directly involved in the ongoing discussions.

We need to learn from the junior cycle outcomes, the work that is being done at the higher education level, as well as apprenticeships and all the other alternatives such as further education and so on. At the same time, we must start thinking about and certainly adapting our mindsets as to how we might proactively and positively engage with the reform process for the leaving certificate examination in order to address the real problems we all acknowledge exist. Despite having very good educational outcomes in Ireland generally, many people still find the leaving certificate examination to be problematic.